I think the actor has been in the movies. I remember seeing him in Terminator: Salvation. Although I liked Ivan, I think they are going in a different direction with Viv. He was playing the comic foil, so maybe tptb didnt think he would work in this SL?

But Ivan has been there from the beginning. He was there before Vivian showed up in Salem. So he was there when the origianl Vivian was around and not the comic relief she and he became towards the end of their run. I could totally see him fitting in.